August’s Book- Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls

Thank you Susie for hosting our book club this month. We had a lively discussion on, The Postmistress, and all agreed in the end that it was a good book to read. War is a terrible tragedy, but when you look at how it effects individual lives it can be devastating. This book helped us see how individuals coped and how we as a country in the 1940’s needed to open our eyes more. Thanks for recommending the book Susie.

Sue Mitchell will host next month on Tuesday  August 3rd.  Her Pick will be:

                                         

A Book Review:

Jeannette Walls's "The Glass Castle" was "nothing short of spectacular" ("Entertainment Weekly"). Now she brings us the story of her grandmother -- told in a voice so authentic and compelling that the book is destined to become an instant classic. ""Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did."" So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, in Jeannette Walls's magnificent, true-life novel based on her no-nonsense, resourceful, hard working, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier town -- riding five hundred miles on her pony, all alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car ("I loved cars even more than I loved horses. They didn't need to be fed if they weren't working, and they didn't leave big piles of manure all over the place") and fly a plane, and, with her husband, ran a vast ranch in Arizona.

She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette's memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in "The Glass Castle." Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds -- against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn't fit the mold. "Half Broke Horses" is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa" or Beryl Markham's "West with the Night." It will transfix readers everywhere.

A Reader from Goodreads says:

Jeannette Walls’ true-life novel, Half Broke Horses is a captivating, beautifully woven story that is fast pace and hard to put down. Wall’s gives her maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith a voice and shares her story - passed down orally from different family members - with the world. Lily Casey is an extraordinarily strong, smart, and spirited woman that any granddaughter or reader of this novel can admire. This book is filled with both triumph and heartbreaking tragedy, and definitely does not lack adventure. Growing up in a still somewhat untamed west, Walls provides an interesting portrayal of important events in American history from prohibition and the depression to the industrial revolution and WWI and WWII through the perspective of her grandmother.

Walls writes the story in first person from the point of view of her grandmother. She explains in the author’s note that she wrote the story in first person because she wanted to capture Lily’s distinctive voice that she can clearly recall. The first person narration doesn’t disappoint either. Walls successfully captures Lily Casey’s voice in a way that only enhances the narrative, and makes Lily seem all the more enchanting. The language is witty and poetic in its simplicity.

Sounds like a great book to read for the summer. Enjoy!

Please note we will not be meeting in September.

July’s Book- The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

We had a wonderful visit at Heather’s house this month. Hunger Games really got us thinking about how blessed we are to enjoy our freedoms and how grateful we are to live in America. The sequel, Catching Fire, is also highly recommended and the third book in this series is out sometime in August. I know several of us are eagerly awaiting it’s release. Great pick Heather!

We are going to be meeting at Susie Quinn’s home in July.

Her pick is:

                           

Description from Goodreads says: 

Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them- but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen. The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.

 

A reader review says:

Considering the fact that this is not my usual genre of choice, The Postmistress was an enjoyable novel, and one that I would probably have picked up myself, had I seen in on the shelf.
Sarah Blake is truly a gifted author, writing with a clean, fresh voice. Original and touching are two very good words to describe her work-- and this novel. It wasn't one of those books where you're constantly reminded of another book while reading it.
I've not read many novels set in this time period (World War II era), and although I know my history, this story still opened my eyes even more to war, and everything it contributes to in our daily lives. The way Blake wrote the novel, described the settings and actions, you're almost prepared to look up from the book and find yourself transported back to 1941, running for the bomb shelters.

Enjoy reading  and we will see you at Susie’s house on July 6th.

Here are the directions:

She lives at 16131 E. Radco Dr.  From Sullivan and Sprague you would head up past the high school and turn left on 20th Avenue; then right on Sonora and left on Radco.  The house is more at the end of the street and is a peach house on your left.

June’s Book- Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

We had a wonderful time at book club this month. Thank you Debbie for hosting and for your “decorations”. It was truly a treat so see such a visual! The Cinnamon rolls were yummy and rivaled anything  Oletta would have made. The writing was beautiful and it was a charming book to read. We missed those of you who could not attend and were glad to see some returning friends. We also  WELCOME our new friend, Beth Adkins. We hope you had a good time and will give us another try next month.

Our next book will be hosted by Heather Otte. We will meet on Tuesday June 1st.

Her pick is:                 Hunger Games   by Suzanne Collins

A reader from Goodreads says:

Sometime in the future, the Earth has met the fate we are only now prophesying: the ocean has risen, the coastal cities have disappeared, all manner of environmental disasters have occurred. In North America, the survivors created Panem, a Capitol city in the Rockies with 13 outlying Districts, each focusing on producing a different product for the Capitol: gems, coal, agriculture, fishing etc.
In Katniss' district, District 12, they mine coal. It's one of the poorest districts, a district that never stands a chance in the Hunger Games because the children are so starving. Since her father died in a mining accident when she was twelve, Katniss has hunted illegally in the forest, developing a formidable skill with the bow and arrow to bring fresh meat back to the town to trade for things for her family: her mother and her little sister Prim.
Now sixteen, Katniss finds herself in a nightmare predicament: against all odds, her twelve-year-old sister Prim has been selected as a tribute for the Hunger Games. After a rebellion amongst the Districts against the Capitol was ferociously put down years ago, the city instigated the Hunger Games as a deathly reminder that the working people of the Districts live by the Capitol's whim. The people of the Capitol treat the Games like the year's best entertainment, and are giddy with excitement to watch twenty-four children aged from 12 to 18 - a boy and girl from each District - kill each other before the cameras, and the victor is celebrated like a hero. In the Districts, winning the Hunger Games brings fame and food to your district, and the winner is set for life.
But Prim is only twelve, and aside from having her mother's knack at healing, has no survival skills. Katniss doesn't hesitate for a moment before volunteering to take her place.

Let the Hunger Games begin.

 

Heather has recommended a few good books so we might want to check these out. Here is her list:

• Why Zebra’s Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
• Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (sequel to Hunger Games)

Heads up on next month’s pick by Susie Quinn:  

The Post Mistress   by Sarah Blake.                                                               I’ll do a review next month.

Happy Reading !

May's Book - Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Thanks to all who came to Telarry's house last night for book club. We had a great time discussing the book Spare Change. It was fun to hear Telarry tell us why she choose that book. Although we all agreed it was not the best written book out there it was a fun, easy read and came just at a time when that was needed. Now we know what to do with all of our "spare change" ! Thanks Telarry!

Some important business to pass on: Due to scheduling conflicts we have agreed to move book club night to the 1st Tuesday of the month. This will allow some of our dear friends to continue to join us each month.

Our next book will be hosted by Debbie Mullin on Tuesday May 4th. This is her pick:

From the author's website:

Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.

The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.

CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters, and the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.

But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.

Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others.

I read this book and loved it. Looking forward to reading it again and discussing it with everyone. Hope to see you at Debbie's house next month.

April Book Club Book

We had a great discussion on our "founding mothers" at book club last night. We came to the conclusion that we as modern women are not that different from the women of their day. We are also strong and are able to rise to the important and necessary tasks placed before us. We were able to put into words our gratitude for their contributions in forming our wonderful and free country. Thank you Susie (Margaret's friend and now ours as well !) for your insightful comments and visuals on the revolutionary days of your birth country, Peru. It was very interesting to hear the stories of your family. If you were not at book club, please know that we missed you and hope to see you next month.

Telarry will be hosting book club next month at her house on Wed. April 7th. Her pick is:


Telarry says the best place to get the book is to order it from Amazon as there are few to no copies available in Spokane. Sue Mitchell was able to find it at Deseret Book online for less than Amazon. Telary says it is a quick read so get your orders in or find a friend and share. Hope to see you next month.

Here is a review from a reader at Goodreads:

Awww! What a sweet book! I can definitely see why Spare Change won the Whitney for best Romance in 2008. Aubrey Mace has the cutest writing style. Her narrator, Riley, had the quirkiest little voice--but not annoying! In fact the girl had applaudable streaks of sarcasm that I could not do without.

The story is about a 23-year-old girl with a fantastic New Year's resolution: to save all her pennies and then donate them to Cancer Research. But a grumpy yet handsome banker and a secret admirer pepper this story with wonderfully romantic episodes. There were several times I laughed out loud, one of my favorites being at the end of her first date with the banker, Paul. Everyone knows how awkward that part of the date is, and author Aubrey Mace, I swear to you, related that awkwardness in the most perfect paragraph that could ever be written on the topic. I seriously felt like I was listening to a professional stand up comedian. But I cannot betray her secret lines, so you have to buy this book!

I also found the protagonist to be extremely relatable. I loved that she was terrible at sports, was addicted to ice cream, and was terrified of horses. She felt very real to me and I feel as though we could be friends--especially when she envied the "cool" looking girl on the motorcycle.

If you want a clean read with top of the class writing and several out loud laughing moments... (yes, I'll admit it, and I know my husband thinks I'm insane) then you need to read this book! Oh, and you'll love her quotes at the beginnings of every chapter! They were perfect!

March Book Club Book

We had a great discussion at LouAnn's home last night. It's such a pleasure to read a good book and then discuss it among your dear friends. Juliet is such a loveable character and if more people could be as selfless as Elizabeth was, our world would be a better place. What an amazing group of friends we meet through that book. Thank you LouAnn. Next month we will be meeting at Diane Walker's home on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7pm. This is her pick:


A description of the book from Goodreads:


"While much has been written about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, battled the British, and framed the Constitution, the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters they left behind have been little noticed by history. Roberts brings us the women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, often defending their very doorsteps. While the men went off to war or to Congress, the women managed their businesses, raised their children, provided them with political advice, and made it possible for the men to do what they did. The behind-the-scenes influence of these women - and their sometimes very public activities - as intelligent and pervasive." Drawing upon personal correspondence, private journals, and even favored recipes, Roberts reveals the often surprising stories of these fascinating women, bringing to life the everyday trials and extraordinary triumphs of individuals like Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Read Franklin, Eliza Pinckney, Catherine Littlefield Green, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington - proving that without our exemplary women, the new country might never have survived."

Another Goodreads review:

"The book is divided into historical periods, which was helpful. What was not so helpful, for me, was how often I felt the narration jumped around - either from person to person or from past to present (well, Revolutionary Present). There were so many people and names that when we kept jumping back and forth I had a really hard time keeping everyone and their story straight. To remedy this, instead of trying to be 100% aware at all times of who I was reading about, I tried to mostly just appreciate what this book intended to teach me: that these women deserve to have their stories told. And while Martha Washington and Abagail Adams are familiar names, many more women were influential on not only their own men, but on pre-Revolutionary society as a whole. A good part of what our country is today is a result of their opinions and their valiant efforts both during the Revolution and while our country was being slowly pieced together. Not all the women in this book made great choices, of course. Some had affairs with married men - and these affairs affected the course of historical events. Some women even held their husbands back from public office, adding to the workload of other Revolutionaries. For good or bad, these ladies had an important place in the events of the Revolution. What Cokie did particularly well was to place these women in the context of the lives of their men. And by doing so, without ever stating it outright, she helps us to realize that these men, immortalized on our money and in the names of our elementary schools, they were just that: mortal men. They had flaws and they made mistakes and they loved their wives and cheated on them. They mourned the loss of their children, traveled back and forth constantly throughout a war torn land and fought tirelessly for a dream of governing themselves. And while these men worked in the public sphere, the women oversaw plantations alone, ran fundraising campaigns for the soldiers, wrote political plays, raised children and buried them. Martha, Abagail and all the others who supported the Founding Fathers absolutely deserve three cheers of their own. "

Enjoy reading and see you next month.

February Book Club Book

We will be meeting at Luann's house this month on Wednesday February 3rd at 7pm. It will be nice to get back together and enjoy our discussions and friendship. Luann's pick for this month is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Enjoy reading and see you in February.

“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.